I believe that Steampunk is more than just brass and watchparts. It's finding a way to combine the past and the future in an aesthetic pleasing yet still punkish way. It's living a life that looks old-fashioned, yet speaks to the future. It's taking the detritus of our modern technological society and remaking it into useful things. Join me as I search for items for my house that combine the scientific romanticism of the Victorians with our real present and imagined future.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

The New Traditional, by Darryl Carter, caught my eye while browsing a local bookstore; I turned a couple of pages and was hooked! (Luckily my in-laws got me a copy for Christmas.) Since then I've seen a number of magazine articles featuring Carter's designs. He even has a line of furniture with Thomasville.

If you were a fan of the "minimalist steampunk" look I posited a while back, this book is for you. Carter takes traditional elements -- high quality floors, antiques, dark wood -- and combines them with light backgrounds and black accents for a traditional minimalist look.

All the magazines mention that Carter is a lawyer turned interior designer with little formal training; I suspect the analytical lawyer mind led to this highly disciplined look.

It looks deceptively easy, but this look requires a lot of careful editing and high quality pieces. I think it would be fun to find just the right set of pieces -- to make it steampunk, focus on Victorian or Gothic furniture (or reproductions), add in a handful of brass accessories, and make or splurge on a standout clock and lighting. I suspect this look could be adaptable to apartment neutrals. A key piece of the look is unadorned neutral upholstery; slipcovers could transform existing pieces. Paint would transform the walls (note: O at Home had the exact color Carter used on a house for them: Tackroom White WW10 by Ralph Lauren) For flooring, I keep picturing cream colored travertine, but a lower budget option could be wood look laminate flooring in a medium or dark tone.

None of Carter's houses have *any* color outside of his very neutral pallete, but you could soften and personalize the look with a small handful of accents -- pillows, rugs, a painting -- in a single color. (Dark reds or navy blues would set off the neutrals, but almost any color could work as long as you were diligent to keep everything either neutral or this color.)

Sunday, February 8, 2009

I was browsing lights in my local Lowe's hardware store this weekend, and I was really impressed with some of the new track lighting options -- and the prices couldn't be beat.

This one was my favorite -- the adjustability gives it a lot of potential. (Picture it stretched out a bit more, but still with a bit of zig-zag...) I'm trying to figure out if I could use it in the bathroom over double sink -- it will go 72 inches long at full stretch. At the store they had it mounted on the wall (instead of the ceiling as pictured here), with the lights adjusted downward. And, hey, it's only $119.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Jay was so nice as to send in this house from Country Living. It doesn't have enough science or technology for my taste, but there are a lot of other ideas here.

I like this dark color on the walls -- it's not black, but it's still high drama. The color is Ralph Lauren's Grange Hall. The owner mixed "fancy" -- the table base, the chandelier -- with industrial -- the chair, side table, and lamp to good effect.

Using a natural looking linen, and not hiding the seams, for the duvet cover again plays off the chandelier. I'm noticing these natural linens and burlaps in a number of my posts (Tammy's and Mildred's Lane) and I think why the "work" in steampunkish rooms is that they provide that juxtaposition and they have this "Victorian revolutionary punk holed up in a falling down house making do" vibe (or something like that!)

The dining room uses the same linen for loose window treatments.

Another good dark color in the kitchen -- this one is a dark grey from Ralph Lauren called Surrey.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

I've always admired those rustic industrial bath fixtures -- but have never quite figured out how you'd build them yourself. Copper piping I get, but what about the controls and handles? I'm sure you could figure it out, but I just haven't yet. (And I'm hoping one of you will have done this and written it up somewhere... )

If that style is a bit too raw for you, you may want to check out Sonoma Forge. The faucets are unique, and come in finishes including rustic copper, a well worn rustic nickel, and brass.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Another one of my favorite "shops" (rather, catalogs) is Wisteria. Founded by a husband and wife team looking for unique objects for their own house (not to mention an excuse to travel), Wisteria is full of unique vintage inspired goods.

Their stock turns over rather quickly -- the riveted coffee table and magnifying glass with stand I had my eye on in early November are both gone already -- so if you fall in love, don't procrastinate. They do have a sale page, with discounts up to 60%. If you are lucky enough to live in the Carrollton, TX area, they have an outlet and the prices there look to be really good deals.